Photoelectric reader for fluorescent ink imprinted coded document

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for reading intelligence contained on a document in the form of information printed with fluorescent ink. To accommodate the document to be read, the reader includes a slot comprising a pair of flat plates between which the document is inserted. Formed in the plates are apertures or windows over which the document is drawn; one window effects the readout; another verifies or approves the document. A fluorescent light source is directed through the readout window and an incandescent light source is directed through the approval window. Aligned with the respective windows are light detector means comprising a plurality of photocells. A housing capable of substantially excluding light contains the document-receiving slot, the light source and photocell detector.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert M. Berler Continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 809,614, Mar. 24, 1969, now abandoned. Thisapplication Nov. 27, 1970, Ser. No. 93,470

[54] PHOTOELECTRIC READER FOR FLUORESCENT INK IMPRINTED CODED DOCUMENT 8Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

52 us. Cl 250/11 R,

250/7l.5 R, 250/83.3 UV, 250/219 DC [51] Int. Cl G01n 21/22 [50] Fieldof Search...

Primary Examiner-James W. Lawrence Assistant Examiner-Morton J. FromeAttorney-Arthur J. Plantamura ABSTRACT: An apparatus for readingintelligence contained on a document in the form of information printedwith fluorescent ink. To accommodate the document to be read, the readerincludes a slot comprising a pair of flat plates between which thedocument is inserted. Formed in the plates are apertures or windows overwhich the document is drawn; one window effects the readout; anotherverifies or approves the document. A fluorescent light source isdirected through the readout window and an incandescent light source isdirected through the approval window. Aligned with the respectivewindows are light detector means comprising a plurality of photocells. Ahousing capable of substantially excluding light contains thedocument-receiving slot, the light source and photocell detector.

PATEWEDBECMIQM 3, 28,015

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR.

ROBERT M. BER LER ATTORN EYQ FATENIEDnEcMw'n 3,62 ,01

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sET REsET SET RESET FF-IJE E ROBERT M. BERLER E DECODER ENABLE SIGNALATTORNEY.

PI-IOTOELECTRIC READER FOR FLUORESCENT INK IMPRINTED CODED DOCUMENT Thisis a continuation of application Ser. No. 809,614, filed Mar. 24, I969,now abandoned.

This invention relates to a device for reading coded information byoptical means from a document containing data imprinted on the documentwith fluorescent ink. The reader has no moving parts aside from thedocument, i.e., the ticket which is hand inserted into the reader andthen withdrawn from it. It is simple in principle, free frommaintenance, and inexpensive.

In use, it is contemplated that the reading device of the invention willhave the capability of reading a computer printed ticket. However, bymodification, within the purview of one skilled in the art following theteaching herein set forth, it is also contemplated that it is capable ofreading a punched hole type ticket. For the purpose of disclosing theinvention with optimum particularity, the invention will be described inconnection with a device for reading a computer printed ticket which isprinted with fluorescent ink and which is illuminated with ultravioletlight. The fluorescent ink is selected so as to produce the maximumresponse or output from a silicon photocell. Preferably for optimumresults, fluorescent ink is used which has a color having a millimicronwavelength in the range of from about 580 to about 730, and preferablyabout 600 to 700, of the normal solar spectrum (Websters Third NewInternational Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam Co. I966, Plate facing page448). FIG. 4 illustrates one type of computer printed ticket which canbe used with the reader herein described.

The reader of the present invention finds utility in the field of datahandling. particularly in connection with the control of merchandiseinventory, and while it will be apparent that the reader may findadvantageous applications in various other areas which are confrontedwith a burdensome volume of activity, the present invention will beprimarily described in conjunction with articles of merchandisedisplayed for sale and bearing tags imprinted with coded information,for example.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved reader for datahandling systems which utilizes simple optics and no moving parts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a document readerespecially adapted to read cards, tickets or other documents withinformation imprinted with fluorescent ink.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a card or ticketreader which may be used manually and which is capable of acceptinginformation from a ticket or card which may remain fastened tomerchandise.

It is another object of the invention to provide a reader which isreliable and has built-in safeguards against accidental erroneous orillegal manipulation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a static-type,nonstatic reader, i.e., a reader which uses only a single detector perline for each code bar position rather than a detector for each positionof a code bar over the entire coded area.

It is another object of the invention to provide a reader with goodsignal-to-noise ratio.

These and other objects of the preset invention will become more fullyapparent from the following specification and claims when considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is a schematic diagram in perspective of the functional elementsof the reader of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view further illustrating the functionalelements of the reader and representing, in phantom, a housing for thereader.

FIG. 3 is a plan view depicting the slits or windows in the upper plateover which the photocell bank is mounted.

FIG. 4 is one form ofa conventional ticket with coded information whichmay be inserted into the reader ofthe invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates diagrammatically the voltage output from the bankofphotocells employed to prevent an incorrect document readout.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the reader logic circuit which functions inconjunction with the approval or validating cell bank of the reader.

The reader of the present invention is not a static reader yet itfunctions similarly to a static-type card reader. In a static reader, acard is placed into a reader, then it is removed. There are no movingparts at work (outside of contact closures in some readers.) With thereader of this invention, a card is placed into its slot, then it isremoved; again, there are no moving parts inside of the reader.Additionally, the reader of this invention has no contacts whatever; allsensing is done photoelectrically.

In essence, the reader comprises an arrangement of elements incombination including a slot which is made to accept a particular sizedticket. When the ticket dimension is varied, a suitable slot can besupplied to accommodate that particular ticket, and the spacing of thecoded bans as well as the number of columns to be read are rearranged.

Referring to the drawing, the reader will be described in detail inconjunction with a document. or card including the type shown in FIG. 4.The reader comprises an assembly of a receptacle or slot 10 adapted toreceive a document or ticket II which is imprinted with codedinformation. The slot 10 comprises a suitable structure and may consistof a pair of spaced plates or sheets 12 and 13 between which the ticket11 may be inserted. Preferably the plates M and 13 are provided with anend 15 against which the insert ticket ll bottoms and preferably theyincorporate outwardly flared ends 16 and 17 forming a throat whichfacilitates the insertion ofthe ticket.

The upper plate I2 shown more clearly in FIG. 3, is provided with a pairof slits or windows 20 and 21 over which banks 22 and 24 ofphotoelectric cells are mounted. The lower plate 13 is provided with asingle window or slit 23 similar to and in alignment with the window 21ofthe upper plate I2.

Situated below the lower plate 13 and arranged to project light throughwindows 23 and 21 is an incandescent lamp 27. Positioned contiguous tophotocell bank 22 and arranged to illuminate the window 20 is anultraviolet fluorescent lamp 28. When a ticket ll, imprinted withfluorescent ink, preferably orange or red, is inserted into the slot 10the fluorescent print, appearing in registration with window 20 isactivated by lamp 28, its fluorescent glow will illuminate thephotocells of bank 22. Shown in phantom in FIG. 2 is the outline 29 ofasuitable housing capable of excluding stray light from the photoelectricsensors 22 and 24. The slot 10 is made to accept the ticket easily andguides it during insertion and withdrawal, accurately past the two banksof photocells 22 and 24. The bank or group 22 of photocells are theoptical readout (OR) cells and are used for sensing the codedinformation on the ticket I]. The second group of photoelectric cells 24are the optical ap proval (0A) cells used to aid in validating thereading of the document including the determination of the following:

1. Whether the ticket 11 is pushed all the way into, i.e., bottomed inthe slot 10.

2. Whether the ticket II is inserted into the slot only partially.

3. Whether the ticket is jiggled back and forth during ticketwithdrawal.

The reader decodes the information on the ticket 11 as the ticket isbeing manually withdrawn from the slot. The operation of manuallywithdrawing the ticket 11 from the slot 10 provides the scanning actionnecessary for reading out the coded information.

In FIG. 4 one type of computer ticket or document 31 which is imprintedwith fluorescent ink, usable in conjunction with the reader of theinvention is depicted. In the specific embodiment shown, a multicolumnprinter will be used with seven active columns. The standard printerprints 10 characters per inch and six lines per inch. The ticket willuse every other column printout. This will allow a l/10th-inch clearspace between adjacent code bars. All wheels or columns will print bars0.1 inch long and 0.05 inch thick except the first column 34 which willprint human readable characters or numbers. The human readable numbersof column 34 correspond to the coded information printed out influorescent ink on that same line as the number in each ofcolumns 35-40.The blank space 33 at the top of the ticket 31 is the part of the ticketgrasped by the fingers of the person when inserting the card into thereader. This space may be used for printing other human readableinformation such as the name of the store, etc. When desired, the ticketmight have a hole 32 punched at the top for a string (not shown) as whenit is used as a tag fastened to an article of merchandise, for example.The hole 32 may also serve as a photoelectric index during computerprintout in lieu of an inked indexing mark. If the ticket is not to beused with a string attached to it, or if the hole is preferably omitted,for example, because ofa human readable printout, an index hole may bepunched out instead at the perforations which are the tear-off line andwhich separate one ticket from the next.

In operation, the bank 24 of photoelectric cells referred to as theoptical approval cells (A) provide safeguards from incorrect readout dueto improper ticket insertion or withdrawal such as incomplete ticketinsertion or jerky withdrawal action. This erratic action could make itpossible for the same bars of code to be read out by optical readout(OR) cells of bank 22 more than once, giving a false readout. The outputof the OR cells are fed into the computer in a conventional manner. Thecomputer, through its logic circuits. can determine if the number readout is acceptable, Le, a legitimate one or not, or whether the ticketwas inserted upside down or backwards. The combination of checksprovided by the OR and 0A cell systems can then operate a "Go, No-Go"signal or alarm to the operator. In the case of a No-Go signal, theoperator will reinsert the ticket again. If a No-Go" signal persists egthe ticket might have been misprinted or it might have been mutilated insome manner, the operator may then enter the information into thecomputer manually.

As noted hereinabove, the OR cells sense the fluorescent imprint on theticket 11 through window 20 which is formed in the upper plate 12 of thecard slot 10. The CA cells sense the .ticket when it obstructs thepassage of light from lamp 27 through windows 23 and 21 which are inregistration. While the slot is shown schematically and exposed forbetter illustration, it will be apparent that as a practical structureboth the sides and bottom of the ticket slot are enclosed.

The ticket in FIGS. 1 and 2 is purposely shown partially inserted intothe slot to illustrate how it interrupts the light from the incandescentlamp to some cells of the OA bank while it permits the light to enterother cells of the OA bank. Since the lines printed on the ticket arespaced 0.167 inch apart, i.e., six to the inch, (FIG. 4) the protectionafforded by the 0A bank insures that the ticket reading is safeguardedwhen jiggling back and forth not exceeding more than one line spaceoverall. The cell spacing used in the 0A bank is 0.1 inch. This spacingshould insure a good safety factor since it is approximately two-thirdsof one line space.

The ultraviolet fluorescent lamp 28 is situated so that it willilluminate a portion of the ticket with coded printing in fluorescentink through the top window under the OR cell bank. As the ticket 11 isextracted from the slot, the fluorescent markings or code bars 4l willpass under the respective OR photocell in the bank 22 corresponding toeach column. This information sensed from the imprinted marks will befed conventionally into the computer decoder and logic circuits. Whilethe invention herein depicted and described shows a specific embodimentwherein each of the lamps 27 and 28 are positioned on opposite sides ofthe slot 10, it will be apparent that the order may be reversed, or thatboth lamps, with appropriate shielding, may be positioned on the sameside, or that even a single lamp may be utilized.

As noted hereinabove, the 0A photocell bank 24 and its associatedcircuitry provide safeguards which prevent an incorrect readout of theticket due to its improper insertion or withdrawal from the slot 10, orbeing jerked back and forth, either purposely or accidentally.

The theory of operation of the reader is considered in conjunction withFIG. 5, as follows:

Although the polarity of the signals may be reversed in the actual case,for purpose of discussion, it is assumed that when light to an OA cellis cut-off, the voltage output from the cell goes in a negativedirection. When the cell is lighted, its output voltage goes in apositive direction. The spacing of each individual 0A cell in bank 24,center-to-center, is approximately 0.l inch. When a ticket is insertedinto the throat of the slot 10 and pushed in until it bottoms, it willcover the OA cells one at a time, until they are all cut off from theillumination. As each OA cell loses its light, its output voltage willgo in a negative direction. it is thus seen that as each cell is turnedoff, it will produce a negative pulse. When the ticket is withdrawn fromthe slot, each of the OA cells will be turned on in turn, each producinga positive pulse in the process.

Referring to FIG. 6, a block diagram of the logic circuit which operatesin conjunction with the OA cell bank 24 is considered.

The logic employed prevents a nonbottoming ticket, or a jiggled ticketfrom being decoded. Only a properly bottomed ticket which is thenwithdrawn in a normal manner, i.e., essentially in a uniform stroke,will be decoded. The operation of the logic will be as follows:

When there is no ticket in the slot 10, all 0A cells of bank 24 will beilluminated. There are two busses, a set bus 50 and a reset bus 51. Aticket 11 is now inserted into the slot 10. As it is pushed into theslot, light is progressively cut off to each 0A cell of bank 24 causingits voltage to go negative in step voltage style. Each OA cell isconnected to the reset bus 51 through an isolation diode 52 of thecorrect polarity to pass negative pulses. These negative pulses are ACcoupled'into the reset inputs both flip-flops FFl and FF2. Thus, whenthe ticket is being inserted, FH and FF2 will always be in the resetcondition. With the flip-flops in a reset condition, their outputs willsupply a disable voltage to the AND-gate 53. The decoder will bedisabled.

When the ticket has cut ofl light to all 0A cells, i.e., the ticket 11is bottomed in the slot 10, the ticket 11 can now be withdrawn. As thebottom cell is uncovered, it will receive light, causing its outputvoltage to go positive. This positive step will cause both FF! and FF2to be set. The AC coupling capacitors block DC (direct current). Theresult of this action is to place enabling voltages on both input legs54 and 55 of the AND-gate 53. The decoder (not shown) will now beenabled and be able to translate the information on the ticket as it isbeing withdrawn. As each cell of the bank 24 is uncovered. it willproduce a set pulse which will maintain FF2 in a set condition. Thedecoder will also remain enabled. If during the process of ticketwithdrawal, the ticket direction should be reversed as in a jerk, sothat a previously uncovered cell was again covered up, a negative pulsewill be generated by that cell causing both FH and FF2 to be reset,disabling the gate as well as the decoder. When this happens, a No-Goalarm signal will show. The card 11 must again be pushed to the bottomof the slot and withdrawn again in order to get a Go signal and decodingaction.

If the ticket 11 is inserted into the slot 10 but not all the way to thebottom, FFl will remain in the reset condition, causing gate input 54 tobe disabled, thereby disabling the decoder. Even though the ticket iswithdrawn, the decoder will remain disabled. FF2 will be set but FF]will remain in reset condition; a No-Go signal will be produced. if theticket should be properly bottomed, then withdrawn part way out, andthen allowed to stop where it is, and then pulled the rest of the wayout, and if more than the correct number of clock pulses were generated,a No-Go signal would again be produced, voiding the ticket readout. Thesame thing would also occur if less than the correct clock pulse countoccurred.

It is thus seen that the reader of the present invention affords avariety of novel and useful features which includes:

1. Though nonstatic, it offers the advantages of a static reader.

2. it employs fluorescent ink which acts as light source, similar topunched tape. This provides a system wherein the area surrounding theilluminated code bars are dark and allows wider pickup cone angle forthe photocell without losing light signal while the signal-to-noiseratio remains unchanged.

3. The readout function occurs only during ticket withdrawal.

4. The reader is: fast acting, i.e., as fast as the ticket is manuallywithdrawn; it employs simple optics; and it has no moving parts.

5. It provides safeguards against accidental or illegal ticketmanipulation in the slot.

6. Unlike a static reader, which has one detector for each position of acode bar over the entire coded area, the reader of this invention uses asingle detector for each code bar position perline.

While the invention has been described with reference to a number ofparticulars in order to give a full and clear explanation, variousmodifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A reader for a document upon which information is coded in a patternimprinted on said document with fluorescent ink, said reader comprising:

Means to guide the manual insertion and manual withdrawal ofa documentin said reader,

A source of light positioned contiguous to said guide and arranged so asto project light on a document inserted in said guide, I

A first photoelectric cell bank for sensing information coded on saiddocument positioned contiguous to said guide means the individual cellsof said bank arranged to be responsive only to the fluorescencegenerated from the fluorescent ink coded information imprinted on theinserted document as said light is projected on a document inserted intosaid reader,

A second photoelectric cell bank. electrically interconnected with saidfirst bank, adapted to validate a document only when it has bottomed insaid guide,

Electrical signal means responsive to an optical approval signal fromsaid second photoelectric cell bank for activating said firstphotoelectric cell bank to produce a readout only when said document hasbottomed in, and it withdrawn from, said guide means, and

A housing capable of substantially excluding stray light enclosing saidmeans, light source and photoelectric cell banks.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source for the firstphotoelectric cell bank is ultraviolet light and a separate incandescentlight source is provided for the second photoelectric cell bank.

3. The apparatus of claim I which incorporates an invalidation signalfor a document which is jliggled as it is manually withdrawn.

4. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the validation means comprises thegeneration of a predetermined number of clock pulses.

5. An apparatus for reading a document upon which infor mation is codedin a pattern imprinted on said document with fluorescent ink, saidapparatus comprising:

A document receiving slot to guide the manual insertion and manualwithdrawal of documents to be read, said slot comprising an upper andlower plate,

A readout window and a first approval window formed in said upper plate,

A second approval window in registry with said first approval windowformed in the lower plate,

A source of light positioned so as to direct light through said approvalwindows,

A source of UV light positioned so as to project fluorescent lightthrough said readout window, A first photoelectric cell bank positionedcontiguous to said approval window on the opposite side of said slot soas to receive light directed through said approval windows so long assaid windows are not obstructed by a document inserted in said slot,

A second photoelectric cell bank for sensing information coded on saiddocument position contiguous to said readout window arranged to senseonly light projected into said window and reflected from the fluorescentink coded information imprinted on the document inserted in said slot,electrical signal means responsive to an optical approval signal fromsaid second photoelectric cell bank for activating said firstphotoelectric cell bank to produce a readout only when said document hasbottomed in, and is withdrawn from, said slot, and

A housing capable of substantially excluding stray light enclosing saidslot light source and photoelectric cell banks.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the light source directing lightthrough said approval windows is an incandescent lamp and the lightsource projecting light through said readout window is a UV fluorescentlamp and said fluorescent lamp is positioned on the opposite side of theslot from said incandescent lamp.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the cells of the secondphotoelectric cell bank are selectively responsive to an orange-redfluorescent ink.

8. The apparatus ofclaim 5 wherein the document receiving end of saidupper and lower plates .are flared outward to facilitate insertion ofthedocument into the slot.

1. A reader for a document upon which information is coded in a patternimprinted on said document with fluorescent ink, said reader comprising:Means to guide the manual insertion and manual withdrawal of a documentin said reader, A source of light positioned contiguous to said guideand arranged so as to project light on a document inserted in saidguide, A first photoelectric cell bank for seNsing information coded onsaid document positioned contiguous to said guide means the individualcells of said bank arranged to be responsive only to the fluorescencegenerated from the fluorescent ink coded information imprinted on theinserted document as said light is projected on a document inserted intosaid reader, A second photoelectric cell bank, electricallyinterconnected with said first bank, adapted to validate a document onlywhen it has bottomed in said guide, Electrical signal means responsiveto an optical approval signal from said second photoelectric cell bankfor activating said first photoelectric cell bank to produce a readoutonly when said document has bottomed in, and is withdrawn from, saidguide means, and A housing capable of substantially excluding straylight enclosing said means, light source and photoelectric cell banks.2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source for the firstphotoelectric cell bank is ultraviolet light and a separate incandescentlight source is provided for the second photoelectric cell bank.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 which incorporates an invalidation signal for adocument which is jiggled as it is manually withdrawn.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein the validation means comprises the generation of apredetermined number of clock pulses.
 5. An apparatus for reading adocument upon which information is coded in a pattern imprinted on saiddocument with fluorescent ink, said apparatus comprising: A documentreceiving slot to guide the manual insertion and manual withdrawal ofdocuments to be read, said slot comprising an upper and lower plate, Areadout window and a first approval window formed in said upper plate, Asecond approval window in registry with said first approval windowformed in the lower plate, A source of light positioned so as to directlight through said approval windows, A source of UV light positioned soas to project fluorescent light through said readout window, A firstphotoelectric cell bank positioned contiguous to said approval window onthe opposite side of said slot so as to receive light directed throughsaid approval windows so long as said windows are not obstructed by adocument inserted in said slot, A second photoelectric cell bank forsensing information coded on said document position contiguous to saidreadout window arranged to sense only light projected into said windowand reflected from the fluorescent ink coded information imprinted onthe document inserted in said slot, electrical signal means responsiveto an optical approval signal from said second photoelectric cell bankfor activating said first photoelectric cell bank to produce a readoutonly when said document has bottomed in, and is withdrawn from, saidslot, and A housing capable of substantially excluding stray lightenclosing said slot light source and photoelectric cell banks.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 5 wherein the light source directing light throughsaid approval windows is an incandescent lamp and the light sourceprojecting light through said readout window is a UV fluorescent lampand said fluorescent lamp is positioned on the opposite side of the slotfrom said incandescent lamp.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein thecells of the second photoelectric cell bank are selectively responsiveto an orange-red fluorescent ink.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5 whereinthe document receiving end of said upper and lower plates are flaredoutward to facilitate insertion of the document into the slot.